Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma kicked-off the brand new season of Captain’s Corner on the eve of their first encounter against Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai Indians management have done a tremendous job

The captain took the viewers behind the scenes, spoke about team preparations and getting back to action and more. He also lauded the team management for keeping them in a safe environment.

“Finally, we are here in the UAE. Looking forward to this wonderful tournament. We can't wait to bring some action to you all. We all have been away from the game for so many days, so many months. So yeah, it's just been about getting everyone together, understanding what the coaching staff wants from you. The first couple of weeks was just about getting back there on the field, getting the feel of the ground, getting the rhythm going for each individual. We had a few practice games along the way as well, which turned out pretty good. As you all are aware that we need to stay inside the bubble. Hats off to the Mumbai Indians management. They've done a tremendous job to make sure that all of us are safe and secure.”

CKM Dhananjai is the mastermind behind everything

Rohit then took over the anchor role and got Data Performance Manager CKM Dhananjai to share his experience with Mumbai Indians.

Here we take you through the excerpts of their conversation.

Rohit: “Now that we know where we stand as a batsman, as a bowler. It's a nice way to get back into that thinking mode. This year I'll be meeting individuals behind the scenes, who put in a lot of effort. And you guys don't get to see them. Mr Dhananjai, he's the one! He's the mastermind behind everything that we do here in the team room. He's been with us for the last 13 years, from day zero.”

CKM Dhananjai: “Thank you for having me on the show. Today, game preparation using data-driven decision-making culture is something that MI has embraced over a period of time.”

Rohit: “What happens here is crucial, especially for me because, what I'm on the field, those analytics and data given helps me on the field to make my decisions. It's always nice to have plan B and plan C. These guys make my job easier. They filter everything and then they give it to me. And then it's up to me what I want to execute.”

CKM Dhananjai: “Everybody says to keep it simple. But, to simplify is the hardest thing, and I will keep striving to do that. I think that your (Rohit) leadership around the same also has had a positive effect. If you collaborate, actually take what is necessary and ultimately end up making decisions. I think that is something that we strive for and we have tried to stay ahead of the curve. We are potentially very digital-focused.

Which player visits him the most for data?

“So, every player has an app and they use to look at what they want to do. Someone like Jayant Yadav is very inquisitive. Dhawal Kulkarni, on one side, is pretty inquisitive. The Pandya brothers definitely, they come looking for a lot of stuff.”

Fan Questions

In a bid to stay connected with the Paltan, Rohit even answered some fan questions.

Tushi Shah (Mumbai): “If your performance is not up to the mark, then how do you prepare yourself for the next match?”

Rohit: “What we generally do is try and forget that game as quickly as possible, and focus on the next job in hand. Because, if we lose a game, it doesn't tell us that we are a bad team. It's just that we were not good on that particular day. We were beaten by a good opposition on that day, it doesn't mean everyday is going to be the same.”

Shebas Alam (Tamil Nadu): “In 2013, before playing against KKR, how did you feel, when you found out that you were going to captain Mumbai Indians, for the first time? Also, there is a huge craze from Mumbai Indians in Tamil Nadu, we would be glad if you say a few words about MI TN fans. All the best for the season, waiting for the 5th trophy.”

Rohit: “I was not shocked, but a bit surprised because Ricky Ponting was captaining the team, and then suddenly he stepped down. And he asked me to captain the side. It was a huge honour for me to captain that side because we had some greats in that squad. To captain them was a great feeling. It's great to have a fan base in Tamil Nadu. Your support means a lot to not just me, but the entire Mumbai Indians family. Keep supporting, and I'm sure we will not disappoint you all.”

Anvesha Shah (Mumbai): “IPL is like a festival in India. So, considering this year, there won't be fans cheering right in the stadium. What sort of a change does it bring into the team's mindset as well as the motivation and the morale of the players?”

Rohit: “It's gonna be a little disappointing not to have the fans around the stadium. But, we have to just go by it. We have to stick by this new normal which is not having any fans at the stadium. Only for a little while, I hope. It's not gonna be forever, I'm pretty sure about that. I hope you all enjoyed this episode. I'll bring a lot more insights during the season. So, stay tuned and stay safe.”